Hacker News Reader

Comment by JofArnold | Hacker News Reader

Incredible. Thank you so much for that. What an incredible project and one I think will make a huge impact for years.

Question. I noticed a very unusual experience I've not felt before in a 3D world; I started to feel claustrophobic - so much so I had to close the tab. I'm curious; has anyone else experienced the same do you know? If so, any ideas why it should be so powerful a feeling in this particular case?

View on HN

In person those tunnels are quite claustrophobic. You have to bend over quite a bit and at the same time you're thinking that there's thousands of tons of rock above you.

Quite a few people in my tour group turned back because they couldn't handle it.

Visited in 1995.

I'm a tall guy, and started feeling claustrophobic when I saw what some of the tunnel entrances looked like. I never used the measurement tool to verify, but they looked like they'd have made me prefer crawling instead of crouching.

Something that confirmed my suspicion: In the King's chamber, 'stand' next to the sarcophagus, and look behind you. I won't explain further.

I am not normally claustrophobic, but being tall and some of these shafts are very low, I would be unlikely to make it very far before abandoning the attempt. I am glad I saw this though, I can at least do it remotely.

How anyone did this originally and to rob the place, is amazing.

I went there and yes had to awkwardly crouch/walk up that whole thing.

I think it's the combination of "movement" and very high res pictures.

Once you start moving into the tunnel you really get the feeling you are there.

Also the rig might have been set at 6' (that's matterport's default recommendation, or at least it was) so you really feel the low ceilings.

I think you're right about that. The guided tour was fine but navigating to the top myself was where I got the reaction. I definitely experienced the height.

That’s super interesting—thanks for the feedback. I’m really curious if others have felt this also.

Definitely count at least one more person experiencing claustrophobia ...

Yes! I felt the same and I was going to write a separate comment on that before I found this conversation. I don't know how you managed to crawl(?) through all those tunnels but it just made me sick following through the guided tour. Besides this personal note, I think this is an amazing work! Very informative, the transitions are well-thought and smooth. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Thanks so much for visiting and the feedback. Yep, I was crawling on hands and knees through the horizontal passageways--especially getting to the Subterranean Chamber was tight. After crawling down the horizontal passage, I was accidentally locked in the Queens Chamber for about an half an hour before the guards came and let me out.

Maybe we should have a content warning on the tour somewhere and for those in the future that have tunnel systems / confined spaces.. I'm sorry for everyone that felt claustrophobic during this tour!

Reply on news.ycombinator.com